IJEP 44(7): 637-648 : Vol. 44 Issue. 7 (July 2024)
1. Vidyasagar College for Women, Department of Zoology, Kolkata – 700 006, West Bengal, India
2. Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), Department of Neuroendocrinology and Experimental Haematology, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Regional Cancer Center, Kolkata – 700 026, India
3. West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences (WBUAFS), Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Faculty of Fishery Sciences, Kolkata – 700 094, West Bengal, India
Abstract
Fishing is one of the fastest-growing and employment-generating sectors in India. Approximately 400000 fishermen directly and six lakhs indirectly engage and depend on this industry in West Bengal. Inland and marine fishing have an important role in the socio-bio-economic development not only in India but also in West Bengal. Fishing is the most risky and health-hazardous occupation that involves physical hazards (injury from spines, string, bite, fracture in body parts, sunburns, acidification, mechanical accidents, environmental calamities, rising sea level, erosion, etc.), chemical hazards (poisonous gas due to long storage, accumulation of pollutants, pollutants contamination) and biological hazards (work stress, allergy, parasitic and pathogenic infection, skin and lip cancer). According to International Labour Office (ILO), nearly 24000 fishermen or fishery industry people are killed every year globally due to occupational hazards. According to Global Climate Risk Index (2019) India obtained 7th position in world. Climate change has short-term as well as long-term impacts on physico-chemical parameters of waterbodies due to alteration in salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, TDS, temperature, nitrogen compounds and the emergence of a new variety of pathogens, like species of bacteria. Such pathogens invade as opportunistic pathogens directly or are transmitted through zoonotic infection (for example Vibrio sp.). These long or short-term climatic changes may be predictable or unpredictable. Predictable climatic changes, include cyclones, rise in sea levels, acidification, etc., whereas unpredictable climatic changes are change in water currents, strome, etc. As a result, fisherfolk are most vulnerable to all types of impacts (short/long) of these climate changes (predictable/unpredictable). These climatic impacts and environmental crises also reduce the resilience of fishermen and threaten human health, well-being and livelihoods. Fisherpersons are less aware of climatic change as well as environmental health and occupational crises or risks due to their illiteracy or poor knowledge. Climatic changes are increasing the natural disasters that ultimately destroy the fish diversity, fisherpersons’ houses, health (susceptible to infections) and livelihood, inland freshwater resources, fishing crafts and gear, etc. In West Bengal, the fishery is the oldest as well as important livelihood for the people of coastal areas and such occupation is totally dependent upon the climatic conditions. So, the consequences of climate change can affect fisherpersons’ health and occupational status, which mainly affects their socio-economic condition. The paper discusses climatic change and its impact on the occupational health of fishermen, especially in West Bengal.
Keywords
Climate change, Fisherpersons, Health hazards, Occupational stress, West Bengal
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